Quanzhou, The Luminous Dream of a Millenia

Quanzhou, situated in southeastern China, has been a prominent trading port since the Tang Dynasty, owing to its strategic location where river and sea routes converge within the city. It was widely known as Zaitun, a name derived from the silk brought by Arab traders and the vibrant red flowers introduced by Indians, which they called Citong (刺桐).
By the time of the Song Dynasty, Quanzhou had established trade connections with over 40 ports, including Byeokrando in Goryeo to the northeast, Malacca in Southeast Asia, and India and Arabia to the southwest. Marco Polo’s “Travels in the East” and Ibn Battuta’s “Travels” both lauded it as the “preeminent trading port in the East,” often likened to Egypt’s Alexandria.
As both the starting point and endpoint of maritime trade routes, Quanzhou has been home to a diverse array of religious structures that exemplify the spirit of cultural coexistence, bearing witness to the amalgamation of people and cultures from diverse regions.
Firstly, Kaiyuan Temple is a Buddhist temple dating back over 1,300 years to the Tang Dynasty. It is renowned for its towering pagodas, standing at an impressive height of 40 meters. Notably, the temple features intricate stone carvings portraying Narasimha, also known as the Hindu Lion God, representing the fourth incarnation of the deity Vishnu and depicting various flora and fauna. This amalgamation reflects a fascinating blend of Indo-Chinese cultural elements and echoes the traces of trade spanning vast waterways.
The Islamic Holy Sepulchre, believed to be the resting place of four wise men sent eastward by Muhammad for proselytization, and the Qingjing Mosque, the oldest mosque in China, stands as an enduring symbol of Quanzhou’s longstanding Muslim community and its active role in trade.
Additional remnants include the Tonghuai Guan Yu Temple (Mausoleum), a fusion of traditional Taoism and local folk beliefs, the Tianhu Temple dedicated to the protector-goddess Mazu of seafarers, and even traces of Manichaeism and Nestorianism. Modern-era constructions such as the Christian Tianhou Temple and the Gothic-style Sacred Heart Cathedral further enrich Quanzhou’s cultural tapestry. For this reason, contemporary Quanzhou is often aptly described as the “Museum of World Religions.”
The enduring presence of these diverse religious structures across centuries is a testament to the city’s urban approach, marked by a deep respect for cross-culture. Just as the Liusheng Tower (六勝塔) emulates traditional stupa architecture while actually serving as a lighthouse guiding countless ships to the port, Quanzhou has embraced all cultures much like the open sea accommodates its ever-shifting tides. In 2021, UNESCO bestowed World Heritage Site status upon Quanzhou, recognzing its urban and environmental significance as the central hub of Asia’s maritime trade routes and its consequential prosperity.